Alexander Ovechkin - the latest news
(Александр Овечкин - последние известия)
Ru: Александр Овечкин, Sv: Aleksandr Ovetjkin, CS: Alexandr Ovečkin, FI: Aleksandr Ovetškin, FR: Aleksandr Ovetchkine, DE: Alexander Owetschkin
Pittsburgh advancing means more Sidney Crosby. Oh I know, he's such a great player, and all you people just love him to death. Frankly, I'm tired of watching him. Mostly, his interviews. He says nothing and does so unenthusiastically. But to me, his game lacks pizzaz as well. Give me Alex Ovechkin any day. He's a much more spectacular player and, unlike Crosby, he looks like he actually enjoys the job that gives him enough money to buy anything in the world he wants.
"To lose those guys is huge. We have to figure out a way to keep guys like Sergei and Jagr and those great older veteran players, have them over here and find roles for them," Osgood said. "I think it's important to have older guys like that, that younger European players can look up to when they get over here and understand how to handle themselves on and off the ice. That's what guys like Igor Larionov did for him."
Fedorov played that role to perfection in Washington where he was a great veteran influence on players like Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. When we spoke to him during the Pittsburgh series, he really seemed to enjoy the role and was energized by it. Fedorov can still play, and I'm with Osgood. Iit'd be too bad if we don't get to see it.
Meanwhile, according to SovSport.ru (May 27, 2009, tomorrow's edition), Gennadi Velichkin, general manager of Metallurg, declined to comment on Fedorov. He said, "I don't know where those rumors come from."
General manager of Salavat Yulaev Oleg Gross has confirmed that they continue to negotiate with Victor Kozlov, but said that it would be too early to say if Kozlov would play for his team next season. "Контракт с ним не подписан" -- "We haven't sign the contract with him."
Assistant Coach Jay Leach will not return to the Caps after five seasons with the team, GM George McPhee confirmed this afternoon. Leach coached the defensemen.
"It was a mutual decision," McPhee said. "He's a good man and a good coach and he helped us get to where we are."
Just to remind you that when Scotty Bowman coached Detroit it was Barry Smith who installed the famous now 'left-wing lock' system. GMGM needs to find a good 'defensive coordinator', a specialist, who could help Bruce Boudreau to improve defense. That's the main area of concern for Capitals now.
According to Sport-Express Sergei Fedorov will play next season in Russia's steel city Magnitogorsk, former Malkin's team. He will be flying to Russia in the next few days to sign the contract.
You have to take everything published by Sport-Express with a grain of salt, but it might be true this time because Sergei's lil' big bro Fedor just signed with Metallurg. Sergei said in the past several times on different occasions that he wanted to play with his brother.
The contract is expected to be for 2 years and at least equal to what Fedorov had in Washington in financial terms.
Sport-Express had contacted Sergei and his father, but both refused to comment. Metallurg is also keeping silence.
Sergei Fedorov is close to signing a two-year deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL. The deal, according to the reports, is for $3.8 million per season over two seasons.
While that may indeed happen, I was just told moments ago by someone in the Fedorov camp that the 39-year-old veteran still has interest in playing for Washington next season. But for Fedorov to return to the Caps, I was told via text message, "a decision has to be made soon by Wash."
Fedorov made $4 million on a one-year contract this season.
I've also put in a call to GM George McPhee. So stay tuned.
Well, with the salary cap going down, I don't think we'll see Fedorov in Caps uniform.
The Russian newspaper Sport Express reported Tuesday that the 39-year-old center would be signing a two-year deal worth $3.8 million per season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Continental Hockey League.
But his agent Pat Brisson of CAA Sports said nothing was decided yet.
"Sergei is going to spend a couple weeks in Russia with his family," Brisson told ESPN.com via e-mail Tuesday. "At the same time he's had multiple offers to play in the KHL. He will explore his options while in Russia. However I also believe he might play in the NHL next season. The Capitals have his rights until June 30th. We should continue speaking to them in the meantime."
Fedorov is slated for unrestricted free agency July 1.
Washington forward Alex Ovechkin, Sporting News' NHL player of the year, was named on 36 of 39 ballots by league coaches and executives and heads SN's 2009 All-NHL team.
The other top forwards are Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, the second-leading vote-getter with 31, and New Jersey forward Zach Parise, who garnered 20 votes. Washington's Mike Green was the leading vote-getter among defensemen with 30 and Boston's Zdeno Chara was second with 17. The goaltender selection is Tim Thomas, SN's goalie of the year.
All-NHL Team Alex Ovechkin, F, Capitals • Topped 50 goals for the third time in the past four seasons. Evgeni Malkin, F, Penguins • Led the NHL with 113 points, the highest total of his skyrocketing career. Zach Parise, F, Devils • Gets better every year; 45 goals put him among the league's elite scorers. Zdeno Chara, D, Bruins • Led Boston's resurgence with a physical presence and NHL's hardest shot. Mike Green, D, Capitals • The seventh defenseman in league history to score 30 goals in a season. Tim Thomas, G, Bruins • Led the league in save percentage (.933) and goals-against average (2.10).
More:
Player of the year: Caps' Alexander Ovechkin
Coach of the year: Bruins' Claude Julien
Executive of the year: Bruins' Peter Chiarelli
SN's rookie of the year: Blue Jackets' Steve Mason
Pavel Lysenkov couldn't reach Ovie for 3 days. "You know what, I kind of declared a moratorium," explained Ovechkin. "I decided that for the first three weeks after arrival I will repent all PR, no interviews, no shots for glossy magazines, no TV interviews..." When Pavel asked why, Ovechkin said, "Give me a break! I haven't seen my friends for three hundred years!"
You have to give credit to Pavel for breaking Ovechkin's moratorium.
So, you decided to lay low like a submarine? Alexei Morozov had the same kind of mood after the World Championships in Bern this year. No, I am not laying low. I just want to relax to the fullest. I just don't need a lot of commotion around my name right now.
Can you say that this was the most difficult season in your career? Yes. One of the most difficult... Look how far we made it in the playoffs. I never played in the second round before. It was tough both mentally and physically.
Let's cheer you up a bit. The Sporting News named you the best player in the NHL after surveying 292 NHLers. More than a half named you the best player in the league. Do you like it? This is so far [away] for me now... I don't even want to think about it now.
Now I believe you that this was a very tough season. You have to understand me correctly. It is very nice to hear news like that. But I have switched off from hockey right now. It is in the background for me.
I remember what you said after the season ended: "No one will make me watch hockey now." I won't even get close to a TV.
Not long ago [OnFrozenBlog] rated Washington's players' season. Two marks: one for the regular season, the other for the playoffs. Like in school for essays? One for grammar, the other for content?
Yes. So, Ovechkin got A+/A+. How would you rate your season? I don't like to either praise or criticize myself. What's the point? I will only agree that the team and I played well in the Stanley Cup. But there is a huge difference between 'playing well' and 'we got past Pittsburgh and made it to the [finals].' Do you see it? Pittsburgh right now is battling with Carolina, but our season is over.
But you had your first postseason hat-trick. Even now you're currently third in the scoring race in the playoffs. As a professional, I will say that my individual play was good in the playoffs. But as a part of the team... Yes, we didn't get the Cup. But let's be optimistic. Last season we lost to Philadelphia in the first round, also in seven games. This year we got stopped at Pittsburgh in the second round. So, God willing, just like this, step by step we will make it to the championships rings.
Was it a serious blow that you lost Game 7 at home to Pittsburgh with a score of 2-6? Honestly? Serious... It took me about a week to recover. I couldn't accept the fact that playoffs were over for us.
Also your coach Bruce Boudreau said that Ovechkin played in the postseason with groin and wrist injuries. If it was in the regular season you would go to see a doctor and not an opposing goalie. And who didn't have injuries, tell me? Semin played with a injury, Sergei Fedorov(notes), John Erskine(notes), Mike Green(notes). Half the team was injured. But what can you do? You have to play. I personally played every game on painkillers.
Who do you feel for if the Stanley Cup? Ilya Kovalchuk confessed that he is rooting for the Penguins. I wouldn't say that I am feeling for the Penguins. I actually don't care who wins the Cup. If it's Detroit, Chicago or Carolina, I won't be upset.
But you also told Malkin and Crosby, when they knocked your team out: "Go ahead and win the Cup." That's not what I said. I just wished them luck, that's all. It won't be some kind of a bonus for me if Pittsburgh wins the Cup and it will be like Washington lost to the eventual winner. It is a position of a loser.
You won't even give your predictions? I will, if you want. Pittsburgh and Detroit will meet in the final, just like last year. When are you traveling to Las Vegas? On June 14, I am traveling with a friend.
Four days before the awards ceremony? Actually I have never been to Las Vegas before. There will be time to hang out there, walk around...
Go to a casino... Only on a tour. I won't play the roulette. I am not a gambler.
[Maybe] you can bet on 8, take the jackpot. Beginner's luck. Do you think money falls on me from the sky? I earn them with sweat and blood. I cannot throw them left and right.
And this is after you made $9 million last season? Making one million a month, what do you do with this kind of money? I don't look at my bank account. Yes, I treat money wisely, they are not stashed in my closet without use. Sorry, I won't give media any details. But nothing has changed in my life because of the fact that I am making more money now than I did last year. I am still the same Alex Ovechkin.
When the season ended, Boudreau did not have a team meeting but rather invited each player individually to talk. What did the coach talk to you about? My contract is not ending. That's why we didn't talk about the future. Just some common words: what wasn't good during the season, and what was... We wished each other to have a great vacation. Nothing serious.
Did he give you any homework for the summer? I am not a little boy. Boudreau knows that I get ready for the season myself. I work with a fitness trainer.
And when will it start? Oh, don't ask! Let me take a rest!
I know that as soon as you came to Moscow you went to a Eurovision song contest. Yes. Ari Zakarian picked me up at the airport and we went to get a credential [for the contest], ate at a restaurant. Then we went to the contest.
Ovechkin at Eurovision, photo kp.ru
Ovechkin and Rudkovskaya at her book presentation, photo kp.ru
I watched it together with Ari, Dima Bilan, Yana Rudkovskaya. And, can you imagine, I fell asleep when contestants started singing. The time difference took its toll. I just switched off for like 10 minutes. They I was woken up and even felt good.
Why didn't you go to Miami? Your whole "gang" is there now - Kovalchuk, Semin, Kozlov, Fedorov probably, even Morozov promised to come... I don't feel like going there, you know... I wanted to go to Moscow, to my parents' dacha. I rushed there the second day I was here. Right after the Eurovision song contest. I missed Moscow so much, that even on a plane from Washington I felt such nostalgia.
What kind of schedule is the famous hockey player Alex Ovechkin living now? I sleep until I am completely happy. Now I get it all after whatever sleep I missed during the NHL season. I can easily wake up at three or four in the afternoon.
And then go to a club? It depends on how it goes. My Moscow days are just starting... Alright! Gotta go!
Breaking news of the day: Evgeny Malkin's hat-trick in game 2 of the Pittsburgh - Carolina series. Now our forward has 4 out 10 total Penguins' goals and 25 points, he surpassed his partner, Sidney Crosby (24). What happened last night in Pittsburgh?
As one remember, before the start of the series you could hear people wail "Crosby, Crosby" from every single corner. Seems like it impressed everyone how he played against Ovechkin, which is probably the strongest stimuli for him.
Canadian Crosby is a really good, exciting hockey player, but I've always responded to those wails, "Guys, the number one in Pittsburgh is Malkin!" He is stronger, bigger and better as a center forward, as a puck distributor, even as a physical force. It seems that Carolina didn't share my opinion at first. They were seriously prepared for a Canadian: I see that against him at every shift change they've put special people.
However Carolina doesn't have Ovechkin and this is where Crosby got bored.
The attention to Malkin was on a back burner for which the Hurricanes paid.
Is any intrigue in these series gone?
Frankly I like Carolina. A very mobile, aggressive, vertical team. If I am not mistaken, three years ago in the second round they had already ceded 0-2, but then won four games and then eventually they won a Stanley Cup. Therefore, Malkin & Co. have to be very careful and consider the following two games in Raleigh very seriously.
I am just saying that for him playing against Ovechkin was the major factor, the main irritation, he can't stand Ovie, he can't stand the fact that he was robbed by Ovechkin of the Calder Trophy, he can't stand the fact that he is only the second best player, according to Bruce Boudreau and the hockey world. To me he is even the third best after Malkin, or maybe the fourth after Datsyuk.
So let's just make a scientific experiment to prove it, let's follow Crosby and compare him to Malkin from now on. Based on my theory Crosby should not be as visible as he was in the games vs Ovechkin.
So far my theory works, Malkin was better in scoring, in faceoffs, in hits, in shots, in +/-. Basically Malkin was better than Crosby in every category.
Alright! My scientific experiment continues into game 2. And what we've got here?
G=Goals A=Assists P=Points +/-=Plus/Minus PN=Number of Penalties PIM=Penalty Minutes TOI=Time On Ice SHF=# of Shifts AVG=Average Time/Shift S=Shots on Goal A/B=Attempts Blocked MS=Missed Shots HT=Hits Given GV=Giveaways TK=Takeaways BS=Blocked Shots FW=Faceoffs Won FL=Faceoffs Lost F%=Faceoff Win Percentage PP=Power Play SH=Short Handed EV=Even Strength OT=Overtime TOT=Total
Malkin totally outplayed Crosby, but it was expected. He outplayed Crosby in the first too, but this time he scored a hat-trick. So it's totally totally this time. Even Kunitz, who played 3 minutes less than Crosby has better numbers.
So far my experiment proves the trend, Crosby showed up vs Caps only because of Ovechkin. His best scoring/games were game 1 and game 2 that Pens lost to Caps.
A lot of people in Pittsburgh think Sidney Crosby is the best player in the National Hockey League. A lot of players in the National Hockey League think otherwise.
In an astonishing survey of 324 NHL players -- roughly half the league -- conducted by Sports Illustrated, Crosby finished tied for eighth with a meager 1.9 percent of the vote.
Washington's Alex Ovechkin was the overwhelming winner among the players, receiving 51 percent of the vote. Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom was second with 11 percent.
The next four were the Penguins Evgeni Malkin and Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk seven percent; Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg five percent.
The magazine did not list the players who finished sixth and seventh but made a special note of Crosby's finish because it was so shocking.
The voting, in which players could not vote for their teammates, was done before the start of the playoffs. Crosby leads all players in goals and points in the playoffs. He finished third in scoring during the regular season, behind Malkin and Ovechkin.
Alex Ovechkin at the world premier of Russian movie "Путь"/"The Route" (May 19, 2009)
Michael Madsen plays a role of American aircraft carrier's Captain in this Russian movie. Madsen gave a speech before the movie and said that it was a privilege for him to be engaged in such a big project.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's most dynamic scorer and colorful entertainer, has been named Sporting News' Player of the Year, an opinion shared by 147 of his 292 peers who voted for the award.
Ovechkin, a repeat MVP, led the league with 56 goals, the only player to finish the season with 50 or more. He joined Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy as the only players to record three 50-goal seasons in their first four years.
A lot of people in Pittsburgh think Sidney Crosby is the best player in the National Hockey League. A lot of players in the National Hockey League think otherwise.
In an astonishing survey of 324 NHL players -- roughly half the league -- conducted by Sports Illustrated, Crosby finished tied for eighth with a meager 1.9 percent of the vote.
Washington's Alex Ovechkin was the overwhelming winner among the players, receiving 51 percent of the vote. Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom was second with 11 percent.
The next four were the Penguins Evgeni Malkin and Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk seven percent; Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg five percent.
The magazine did not list the players who finished sixth and seventh but made a special note of Crosby's finish because it was so shocking.
The voting, in which players could not vote for their teammates, was done before the start of the playoffs. Crosby leads all players in goals and points in the playoffs. He finished third in scoring during the regular season, behind Malkin and Ovechkin.
Just fresh from the celebrations of the World Hockey Championship victory, Moscow's hockey world is experiencing another event. The best hockey player the world, the Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin has arrived to the capital after the end of the NHL season. Traditionally Ovechkin spends the entire vacation at home until the opening of the training camp in September.
While still in Washington in his last interview to the media Ovechkin said that he will rest at "full speed" for a first couple of weeks at home. "I have a lot to do at home, I want to see all my friends," said Alexander. "I think my parents won't see me at home too often."
Even an injury that Ovechkin received during the Stanley Cup run won't prevent him to carouse and amuse. In a series against Pittsburgh the forward played with a groin injury. The hockey player himself said that no surgery was neccessary, "time will pass and my injuries will heal themselves."
On Wednesday Izvestia were able to reach his father, Mikhail Viktorovich. He explained that Sasha still didn't forget about the family and spent quite a lot of his leisure time with them. "Certainly we have missed our son," said his Dad. "Although my wife and I would often visit him in America during the season."
Ovechkin senior confirmed that Sasha would stay at home almost entire summer. "We look forward for our family to go to dacha, our vacation cottage, cook barbecues and go fishing," confessed his Dad. "Well, at the height of summer Sashka will go to the South." [tj - The Black sea resorts and beaches uncluding Turkey.] Ovechkin, by the way, is quite conservative in his choice of vacation places. He is not so charmed by exotic Maldives or Hawaii, he likes to go to Turkey and Cyprus as he used to since he was a kid.
Ovechkin's former club Dynamo is another important item on his summer agenda. Even after leaving to the NHL Alexander did not forget about his hometown team, he comes there every year. "He comes to the headquarters, as well as to our training camp at Novogorsk," said Dynamo's spokesman Artiom Dorozhkin to Izvestia. "He can spend the whole day here with us and talk to everyone, to the management, to his first coach or simply to the kids from the hockey school."
Ovechkin has three months to rest and relax. However in late August, shortly before the opening of the Washington Capitals training camp, he will participate in team Russia's Olympic training camp in preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver.
A very interesting comparison of Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes by Malkin and Fedotenko. I think it should be memorized by Coach Boudreau and imprinted on the wall in Washington Capitals locker room before the next season starts. :-) The description of how Caps D played vs Pens is not the recipe for winning hockey games in the playoffs, but it is a recipe how to avoid elimination in the future.
Fedotenko: The Hurricanes have the third forward playing very strong. You can say that he is looking to help defense all the time. That's why Carolina doesn't allow breakaways and counter-attacks, 3 on 2, at least not too often. Our counter- attacks were practically non-existent. It turned out that we were constantly playing against the same number of opposite players. Another thing I'd like to point out is Hurricanes' character. They don't give up. For example, at the end of the first period we pinned them decently. They withstood our offense and then began to create their own scoring chances.
What can you say about the goalies?
Fedotenko: Both Ward and Fleury have played great. Our goalie helped us a lot, especially in the last minutes of the game. We were aware of the fact that Ward would play well. We need to shoot more and to put more pressure on him.
Compared to Washington Carolina's defensemen look better.
Fedotenko: Their defensemen are not very big, but they skate fast and are very quick at passing the puck. That's why it's hard to catch them in their zone. You skate to the defenseman as fast as you can, but he had already given the pass to someone.
What is the difference between Carolina and Washington?
Malkin: A completely different team. Their goalie is as good, but I think Carolina's defense is better, they play very tenacious style. Capitals can't boast about their defense, but their offense is better. So, Carolina is the Washington in reverse.
So... what we've got here?
The third forward helping defense? Sounds like a left-wing lock.
Why Capitals were unable to leave their zone? Because Caps D is too slow, they spend too much time deciding who to pass, doesn't matter if they're big or tall. Practice, practice, practice...
Why Pens were outshooting Capitals and creating more scoring chances? Because they were constantly outnumbering Caps when they were attacking, 3 on 2 all the time since Caps offense (the third forward) was not helping their defense.
As I mentioned in The Lamentations of the Fallen, it's not just a free agent market or the trades that could magically improve Capitals, it's also the things to ponder for Boudreau. Something needs to be altered, not just 'run and gun' all the time, the new defensive system needs to be installed, whether it's a left-wing lock or a modified trap, something. It doesn't mean that the team has to play it all the time, it means the team has to know and practice it to flip the switch when needed. A good way to practice flipping the switch would be playing "the system" on the road and "run and gun" at home.
What Washington really needs might be a change behind the bench. Whether that's a new man or a new approach is up to Bruce Boudreau. He performed miracles last season, transforming the Caps from struggling underachievers into the league's most entertaining squad. That style worked wonders during the regular season, but it glossed over the team's fatal flaw: the lack of a cohesive, executable defensive scheme. They were able to get by against the Keystone Rangers and their popgun offense. Not so easy to do against a team with multiple high-end weapons like the Penguins.
To some extent, Boudreau has coached to his talent, crafting a system that makes the most of the tools at his disposal. But the team's near complete disregard for defense, and its inability to adapt as Pittsburgh exposed that weakness, is inexcusable.
The good news? It's a lot easier to teach a scorer to defend than a defender to score, so the Caps aren't in a bad spot...unless Boudreau is unable to create a system that the team will buy into. He certainly deserves another chance to do just that, but the leash won't be long. He needs to sell his players, especially Alexander Ovechkin, on the need to commit to two-way play. I'm guessing the pain of this loss will help sell his plan. If it doesn't? The Caps might need to look in another direction.
I've got a couple emails a while ago that I'd like to share...
As a reader of your blog and fellow admirer of all things hockey, I wanted to share with you (and readers) an illustration of Ovechkin. This was created for a magazine article, but scrapped at the last minute. Therefore, I am making it available to all via my webpage.
I would also love for feedback/suggestions for changes from you and your readers.
Cheers, Joe Hill
And here's the second one...
TTT Photo will be used as a supplement to Tic Tac Toe Hockey to make my life easier. New photos both edited and rough will be uploaded to TTT Photo, and the full archive should be online sometime after the SC Finals.
Tic Tac Toe Hockey is still the main event, but maybe there's someone out there who can stand more pixels. In the words of The Doors, "Love me two times."
Otherwise he has been, as ex-player and analyst Darren Elliot admiringly described Crosby to espn.com's Scott Burnside before this series, "the most gifted grinder in the game."
"Maybe there was a bit of an edge to Crosby’s game because of the Alex Ovechkin factor during a seven-game series."
I tend to agree with Alan, where was Crosby when Pens were facing elimination, the chance to miss playoffs? It was Gonchar and Malkin who had changed the momentum, not Crosby. Pens went with 4 or 5 decisive victories in a row to make playoffs possible when Crosby was injured. The Empty Netters even jokingly said "should we sit Crosby? The things were going real well without him."
There was a lot of talk that Malkin didn't show up in the first two games. As we know, Pens lost in both. And who showed up there? Who was poking pathetic rebounds like a crazy rabbit? Crosby, but the point is, his team lost, in both games! After that Pens won three in a row thanks to Malkin and the team, but Crosby was not that visible. Yes, he was there, but he disappeared for a while. He did score an important goal in game 7, but it was a freak game, it was already 2:0.
Crosby, even though he never kicked a dog, :-) is a very mean guy, at least competitively mean. I am not saying it's bad. I am just saying that for him playing against Ovechkin was the major factor, the main irritation, he can't stand Ovie, he can't stand the fact that he was robbed by Ovechkin of the Calder Trophy, he can't stand the fact that he is only the second best player, according to Bruce Boudreau and the hockey world. To me he is even the third best after Malkin, or maybe the fourth after Datsyuk.
So let's just make a scientific experiment to prove it, let's follow Crosby and compare him to Malkin from now on. Based on my theory Crosby should not be as visible as he was in the games vs Ovechkin.
So far my theory works, Malkin was better in scoring, in faceoffs, in hits, in shots, in +/-. Basically Malkin was better than Crosby in every category.
To be continued.
G=Goals A=Assists P=Points +/-=Plus/Minus PN=Number of Penalties PIM=Penalty Minutes TOI=Time On Ice SHF=# of Shifts AVG=Average Time/Shift S=Shots on Goal A/B=Attempts Blocked MS=Missed Shots HT=Hits Given GV=Giveaways TK=Takeaways BS=Blocked Shots FW=Faceoffs Won FL=Faceoffs Lost F%=Faceoff Win Percentage PP=Power Play SH=Short Handed EV=Even Strength OT=Overtime TOT=Total
It's entirely possible that Crosby has drawn a bit of inspiration from failing to make the Hart finalists cut because he, like any great athlete, has an ego that helps to fuel his competitive drive.
At times, it looked like Crosby was looking to pass more against the fast and aggressive Hurricanes defense, which is much more effective than the one deployed by the more run-and-gun Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh's opponent in the past round.
Sure, Canes won't allow Crosby to do what Caps defense did, staying next to the net and slamming or poking rebounds like a crazy rabbit. And with that Crosby will switch to what he is famous for, the secondary assists, maybe primary ones, from time to time.
Cole was hit hard by Matt Cooke in a tough knee-to-knee hit in the third. Cole was helped from the ice, but tried to make a return. He skated for 12 additional seconds and left the ice again.
Remember the outcry when Alex Ovechkin went knee to knee with Sergei Gonchar? We will see what is said about Matt Cooke's hit on Erik Cole.
The bottom line is that if you're a Penguins fan who thought Ovechkin should have been suspended, then you should be a Penguins fan who thinks Cooke should be suspended.
During Round Two, Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin used his knee to hit Sergei Gonchar, forcing Gonchar to miss action. Ovechkin received a two minute penalty. No game misconduct. No disciplinary hearing. No fine. No suspension.
Nothing.
Following the hit, Cooke said, “If I did what he did, I wouldn’t be on the ice.”
Today, we will find out whether that statement is accurate.
I wonder what Brooks Orpig is saying? Do not hear anything, hello?
May 18, 2009: Alex and his friend leaving Eurovision's banquet which lasted all night long till 9 AM. It's good that Ovie just flew from the States, it's only a midnight for him!
But not for the four teams eliminated at the quarterfinal stage just completed — for them and for their fans, there is nought but darkness. Despair. Recrimination. A perfect time, then, to bother these fans with a survey in their hour of heartbreak — or, more precisely, to bother their proxies, the independent bloggers from our Hockey Night in Blogdom crew.
We begin with Washington, adding the lamentations of the bloggers representing the other three ousted teams as they come in. Get out your handkerchiefs….
tj of Alex Ovetjkin
What went wrong against the Penguins? Varlamov’s goaltending was outstanding at times, but he was left hang out dry by the Capitals defense for the most part. And as we know defense wins the Stanley Cup.
Encouraging loss, or discouraging loss? It was both, the team went further in playoffs compared to last year, the team has discovered Varlamov, but the way they lost Game 7 was discouraging.
What was the most galling thing you, as a fan of your team, had to put up with? The impotence of the Capitals defense, the play of Alex Semin and especially Mike Green. The fans were hoping he could come up big, but it never happened. We know he played with injury, hopefully he’ll be better next time.
What must the Capitals do to improve for next year? Don’t be shy about naming names. Capitals need to improve in defense. Trades, free agent market, but also more things to ponder for Boudreau. Call it a left-wing lock or the system, but something needs to be done.
Do you wish success in the playoffs for the team that beat yours, or failure? No, I really hope Penguins will choke again. For Capitals fans Penguins are and always will be an evil empire. (No hard feelings, Pens fans :-) )
Alexander Ovechkin was invited to the grand finale of
Eurovision song contest. He was one of the 10 honorary guests along with the mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov.
May 16, 2009 (Moscow time) Alex Ovechkin and Lena Katina. Photo KP.RU.
It's kind of a shock to me that Ovie is already in Moscow. Just day before yesterday he was in a locker room giving his last interview to the media and saying the he was leaving to Moscow "today". Frankly I thought he kidding as usual. And how he ended up as a honorary guest at Eurovision so quickly? Well, Yuri Luzhkov is a friend of Ovechkin's family. Here's an excerpt from Tatiana Ovechkina's interview to Sport-Express last year:
After this summer in Toronto Alex got a bunch of trophies and Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty arranged a chic reception in honor of Ovechkin. He handed him a symbolic key to the city. I am very happy that Alex is so loved in America.
But I would like to say about another Mayor, [about Mayor of Moscow] Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov. Few people are aware that he was helping Alex. I had never told it to the journalists. Our acquaintance with Luzhkov started in 1990s, when he began to support women's basketball Dynamo team where I was the president of the club. There were different situations, but in all matters related to the hockey future of Alex, I was always asking for an advice from Luzhkov. And he'd always give us the correct advice. When in 2004 Alex was chosen as a number one pick, the first person I called was Yuri Mikhailovich. And after Alex signed the contract with Washington I've sent the fax to Luzhkov thanking him on behave of our entire family.
"He's like the shark in Jaws, circling in the water waiting for blood. They should play that music from the movie – da-duh, da-duh, da-duh - when he's out on a shift. He doesn't just go after loose pucks, he hunts them down."
~John Davidson, President of Hockey Operations for the St. Louis Blues.
Blog o Alexovi, psaný anglicky, je vážně kvalitní a aktuální
Just wanted to thank you for posting my book on your blog, which I consulted a fair bit while researching and writing the book. In particular, the comprehensive list of links on alexovetjkin.blogspot.com is the best library on Ovechkin material available anywhere.
Regards,
Geoffrey Lansdell
"The fan blog Alex Ovetjkin does a fine job of tracking all things OV on a daily basis..."
Stu Hackel, Slap Shot The New York Times hockey blog
"Your work on the Ovechkin and Semin interviews was wonderful, and both are just great reads. Thanks for the time and effort..."
Greg Wyshynski Editor - Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports Blogs The Bill Murray Award -- For Outstanding Work From a Bilingual
Nominees: On Frozen Blog, The Alex Ovetjkin Blog
Winner: The Alex Ovetjkin Blog has seriously upped its game over the last twelve months and they continue to be the offseason's premier blog for info on our Russian players. OFB has the connections, but The AO Blog has the heart. Tic Tac Toe Hockey
"If you don’t read “Alex Ovetjkin,” you’re missing out on information on the Caps’ star forward that you probably won’t find in other places." The Peerless Prognosticator
"Alex Ovetjkin: This is a very cool blog, all Alex Ovechkin. If you are a Caps fan it is a good read. If you are a Alex Ovechkin fan, it is a must read. This is one of the best sources to track Ovechkin! Link partner of DCPSR! Rank: * * * * * DC Pro Sports Report
By Don Brennan, Ottawa Sun, May 26, 2009:
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